Life Isn't All About Duty

"What were you thinking before?" King Arias asked Elaine after almost five long minutes of silence. "I rarely see you zoning out like that." His gaze was now shifted from the vast sky where stars scattered to his childhood friend who was quietly sitting beside him.

The young King's question made Elaine recall what she was thinking before. "My late parents," she replied. "What my father always told me when he was alive... it often crosses my mind these days."

Arias Astaze broke his gaze and narrowed his eyes at the ground. He didn't know what to say. Both Elaine's father and his father died on the same day a year ago. It wasn't a memory they would wish to remember.

"May I ask you a question, Your Majesty?"

Once again, his gaze was back to the Captain. His dim eyes hinted at curiosity.

Wasn't it funny? She was the one having a question but... he was the one looking forward to it. Though he hated to admit, this was how the only friendship he ever experienced turned out.

"Go ahead."

"In the secret place of the royal garden... " Elaine started and continued, "What if I don't come and find you? You know that the event was just minutes away."

"I'm not sure," King Arias muttered and glanced at the ground. "Both our fathers died on the same day while that kind of event was held. My brother too." He made a deliberate pause as the incident relived in his mind for the many times in the day. "The thought was suffocating and I just go there for some relief. I don't really think of other things."

Elaine recalled the incident King Arias was referring to. A year ago when a huge event was held in Araven, the then King and Crown Prince were attacked during the feast which cost them their lives. A few guards also died that day and... Elaine's father, Captain Zachary was among them.

Arias and his older sister were the only royals who survived the attack and even now, the case was still unsolved. It was the first and only time in history such an incident took place in Araven!

A year had passed but it still left a scar in the hearts of many people, including the two childhood friends. And for the Royal Guards who were responsible for the safety of the royals, it was a shameful incident they would never be able to forget.

As the Second Prince, Arias Astaze was never supposed to become the King but that incident instantly placed him on the throne despite the disapproval of many officials. Why? Because Arias Astaze was born out of wedlock, that made him an illegitimate son of the late King.

"I will never allow such a thing to happen again, Your Majesty," Elaine Vernimiere said to the King. "Once is more than enough." She always felt responsible as she was also a member of the Royal Guards under her father during that time.

Staring at her for a while, King Arias flashed a little smile. "You really know how to make me at ease," he muttered and looked up at the sky once again. "I can't stop wondering who is the one behind that attack. Did they do that for the throne?

"For me, I don't think the throne is worth more than the lives of my father and brother. I will surely choose their lives over it." He turned back to Elaine and added, "Whenever I think of that way, I ended up hating the throne."

"I hate it too," Elaine thoughtlessly muttered, making the young King raise a brow. And when the Captain realized what she just said, her eyes flickered!

Protecting the throne was one of her most important duties but... here she was, talking about how she hated it.

"Why?" King Arias asked with confusion written all over his face.

Was it because of her father? But that didn't make sense while she still chose to follow in his footsteps a year ago. He surely gave her the chance to back out but she chose this path.

Not knowing any way to avoid answering, Elaine Vernimiere decided to be honest. Then she looked at the King and said, "The throne took away my best friend from me. That's why."

Captain Elaine gazed deep into the King's eyes, an act that rarely happened since she became the Captain of the Royal Guards. However, it wasn't long before Arias Astaze turned away.

"Don't you hate me at all?" He suddenly asked her and she raised a brow. "That night, your father died while shielding me. I survived, but the cost was your father's life."

"My father was the Captain of the Royal Guards, Your Majesty. He was only doing his duty," Elaine stated, earnestly.

She wasn't expecting the King to say that!

"It's not just that," Arias Astaze insisted. "He was like an uncle to me and... also the beloved father of my best friend. Life isn't all about duty, Elaine."

At times, Elaine Vernimiere used to be amazed by just how much King Arias changed in a year. From a playful and problematic Second Prince to the aloof and depressed King... it wasn't easy to accept this change for her but...

There was nothing she could do.

Their friendship started just days after she was adopted into the Vernimiere family. Back then, Arias just arrived at the palace after living with his mother for 10 years. The place where they were right now was the place where he used to live with his mother but when the latter died due to illness, his father brought him to the palace.

One was without memories while one was new to the palace and everyone there. It didn't take long for them to get along and form a close bond. Back then, Arias used to be the one who listened to Elaine and endured her every whim despite being the Prince. As he wasn't supposed to become the King, being that way was fine for them but... things took a drastic turn when the King and Crown Prince were assassinated.

Arias became the King and Elaine became the Captain of his guards. With the scar from the incident living in both their hearts, their relationship was never the same again.....